SIX years since the Murray-Darling Basin Plan was first introduced, the authority behind the controversial initiative believes “real progress is being made for everybody”.
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Murray-Darling Basin Authority chief executive officer Phillip Glyde was one of the many speakers to address last week’s Murray-Darling Association national conference in Leeton, saying the message was simple.
“While there’s room for improvement, we are definitely making good progress in managing the basin for everybody,” he said.
“We’re six years into a 12-year plan.
“We need to stay the course and we need to remain committed to this rare jewel.
“There’s really no plan B.
“My plea to all is to get behind the current plan and make it work for the best interests of the basin and the nation.”
The conference brought together states from the conference affected by the plan and its wide-reaching effects.
The Basin Plan continues to bring controversy despite it being six years on from the original draft.
Many communities feel it is having an adverse affect on their towns and businesses, while there’s also been revelations of water theft and calls for reviews in the Southern Basin area as there was in the north.
Mr Glyde said the plan had been described to him as “the least worst plan we’ve had”.
“I think that’s absolutely right … just because we’ve had bipartisan support doesn’t mean everyone has agreed on everything,” he said.
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“It’s still hotly debated.
“Many of the same issues that were being debated in 2012 are still being debated and discussed quite strongly now.
“It doesn’t mean the plan is flawed or at risk.
“The one point we all agree is that Australia needed a plan.
“We couldn’t go back to what we were doing before the millennium drought.”
Mr Glyde said there would likely always be differing opinions as the MDBA works to save an area the size of France and Germany from collapse. “We shouldn't lose sight of how hard this task is,” he said.
“Not just environmental collapse, but for the industries and communities that depend on that vital resource. We are making progress towards a healthy, working basin for everyone and everything.”
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